A day after Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah unveiled a budget with HK$80 billion worth of tax relief mainly for the middle class, lawmakers berated him for neglecting the city's neediest people - a class whom they have named the 'N-nothings'.
The term refers to those who live outside the government's so-called safety net because they have no access to public housing or welfare, are not taxpayers and are not entitled to many government relief measures.
Tsang yesterday faced a barrage of criticism in the Legislative Council for ignoring the N-nothings in his budget on Wednesday, but he rejected a proposal by lawmakers for such people to be given rent allowances, saying this might 'distort the rental market'.
At a meeting of Legco's finance committee, the lawmakers' calls for the government to help the N-nothings came from across the political spectrum, putting pressure on the government to amend the budget, as many legislators have yet to decide whether to approve it.
Legislator Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, of the Civic Party, asked if the authorities could give rent allowances to those who have been waiting for public housing for more than three years, echoing a proposal made by Nelson Chow Wing-sun, chair professor at the University of Hong Kong's Department of Social Work and Social Administration.
Tsang replied: 'As far as leasing of homes is concerned, we are worried that it [a rent allowance] will distort the rental market, provide a wrong incentive and even make the waiting list [for public housing] longer.'
Lawmaker Alan Leong Kah-kit asked if the government could simply ask the N-nothings to 'stand out' so that authorities could offer help.
